Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Headphones Review

Probably the most common wearable tech in the world today are headphones. While watches used to be ubiquitous, they have been replaced as essential equipment by headphones (attached of course to the most indispensable item of all in modern life – a smart phone). Certainly I would never leave home without both!

So given that headphones are a necessity, the only question that remains is which ones will you choose? I spend a lot of time trying out various headphones, looking for the best. Within reason, of course – I will never wear headphones that cost thousands of dollars. No, my goal is headphones that do the job well for a reasonable price.

Sound quality of the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Headphones

As with all headphones, do burn them in for 24 hours before evaluating them. I did, and found the bass got better during the 24 hours. It was only a little lacking at first, and after 24 hours the bass was full and rich, with minimal vibration. The details and clarity were great from the start, the treble is great, and the stereo effect was stunning enough to make me a bit confused about reality at times. This of course allows for complete immersion in game playing.

Do you want to be seen in public with Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Headphones?

With headphones that cover your ears, the first question is whether they look good enough to wear in public. Well, on that issue, these passed the teenager test, with my 15-year-old son trying his best to persuade me to give them to him (I didn’t). I asked him if he would be embarrassed to be seen in public with them, and he said no, because they are black, low profile, and look good. Mainly however he wanted them for the sound. We were quality testing the sound of five different sets of headphones that day, and I was surprised to see how the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Headphones shone, even compared to more expensive headphones.

Comfort of the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Headphones

The second question is whether they feel good enough to war for long periods of time. Well, they do. Granted, they are not super light, as you might find in more expensive headphones. However, they are comfortable, light and adjustable enough to wear for hours without becoming irritated. The ear cups can be rotated to find a position that is comfortable for you.

I have a large head, and found the fit to be snug but not tight.

Are the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Headphones easy to carry around with you?

A collapsible design and relatively light weight make it a cinch to cart these around with you. They also have quite a long cord, coiled and flexible.

A large part of the reason for wearing over the head closed-ear headphones is to create a world of your own. The specs will tell that these provide up to 32 dB attenuation (reduction) of outside sound. I can tell you that if you are listening to music with them, you can see the lips of other people moving, but you don’t have to listen to what they are saying. Your spouse is probably not going to be happy about this, but I certainly was, especially on transit! The noise isolation is termed “aggressive”, but of course it will not block out very loud sounds (such as train horns, or your spouse yelling at you to take the damn things off). I have heard other users say that when these are worn on a plane, you don’t hear the jets – always a good thing, in my opinion. My main aim on a plane is to be so immersed in my entertainment that I forget I am actually on a plane.

Construction of the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Headphones:

These feel like good quality and look rugged. They are (of course) plastic, but look to have been very well made in Ireland. Individual parts can be replaced (a refreshing change – nowadays it seems if you break your side mirror, they want you to replace your car).

The band that goes over your head is plastic. Here you see how the ear cups of the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Headphones can swivel.

Compatibility of the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Headphones

These plugged easily into my iPhone. They are also compatible with MP3, iPod, DVD, and CD players, and of course all other cell phones with a 3.5mm jack plug. You can also plug it into stereos or studio equipment that needs a ¼” plug, as a ¼” stereo plug adapter is included.

The Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Headphones are Suitable for:

Home listening, studio monitoring, blocking out noise in the office and on transit.

The Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Headphones are NOT suitable for:

Cycling, running (too big)

Being a pedestrian (dangerous as you won’t hear cars)

Bottom line on the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Headphones:

Sennheiser is rightly proud of these headphones, which they see as the most important around-the-ear headphone that has been introduced in years. Sennheiser designed these to exceed the demands of the professional environment, and claims that they deliver accurate, linear sound reproduction – with enough noise attenuation to make it easy to do studio monitoring. Whether you want them for professional studio work or just to shut out the outside world and enjoy your favorite tunes, you cannot really go wrong with these – and especially not at this price. (In fact, I can afford to get some for my son so he will stop stealing mine!)

If you decide to buy these, please click through my links, so that I get a small commission, which goes a little way towards paying for my time (think of it as buying me a coffee!). Buy it now – you cannot go wrong! (But if you don’t like it – Amazon will take it back, and pay the shipping.)

Finally, here’s a video that will show you a bit more about these headphones:

Ear pads, headband padding, and audio cord are easily replaceable, ensuring long life

Collapsible earpieces for compact transport

Lightweight and comfortable, ergonomic design

Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 10.2 x 20.3 cm

Frequency response (headphones): 8 – 25,000 Hz

Jack plug: 3.5 / 6.3 mm stereo

Load rating: 500 mW

Nominal impedance: 64 Ohms

Sound pressure level (SPL): 102 dB (IEC 268-7)

Total harmonic distortion (THD): 0.1%

Transducer type: Dynamic, closed

Weight: 7.8 oz (220 g)

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Welcome to our Wearable Tech Blog!

Welcome to our blog! I’m Joe Goodwill, and I spend my time testing and reviewing wearable tech (a tough job, but somebody has to do it). This blog features product reviews, news, and advice for people like you who want to use wearable tech - but who want to do their research and be really clear about what they are doing and what they are buying.Hi! I'm Maggie Neilson (aka Mrs. Average Joe). I share Joe's love of wearable tech, and I love trying them out and reviewing them on this blog.

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